Starter and shift interlock

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is an engine including means mounting a starter gear on a relatively fixed housing for rotary movement and for axial movement relative to a flywheel gear between a retracted position and a position engaging the flywheel gear, means causing axial movement of the starter gear toward the flywheel gear engaging position in response to rotation of the starter gear in one direction, and means for permitting movement of the starter gear from the retracted position to the flywheel gear engaging position in response to starter gear rotation in the one direction when a clutch actuating member is in a neutral position and for preventing movement of the starter gear from the retracted position toward the flywheel gear engaging position when the clutch actuating member is spaced from the neutral position.

United States Patent 1 Berry et a1.

[ STARTER AND SHIFT INTERLOCK [75] Inventors: Robert J. Berry, Waukegan;Chester G. Dubois, Zion, both of ill.

[73] Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation,

Waukegan, lll.

|22| Filed: June 24,1971

|2l| Appl, No.: 156,227

Primary ExaminerLaurence M. Goodridge Atturney- Robert E. Clemency, JohnW. Michael, (ierrit 1). Poster at al.

[ June 19, 1973 [57} ABSTRACT Disclosed herein is an engine includingmeans mounting a starter gear on a relatively fixed housing for rotarymovement and for axial movement relative to a flywheel gear between aretracted position and a position engaging the flywheel gear, meanscausing axial movement of the starter gear toward the flywheel gearengaging position in response to rotation of the starter gear in onedirection, and means for permitting movement of the starter gear fromthe retracted position to the flywheel gear engaging position inresponse to starter gear rotation in the one direction when a clutchactuating member is in a neutral position and for preventing movement ofthe starter gear from the retracted position toward the flywheel gearengaging position when the clutch actuating member is spaced from theneutral position.

14 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 STARTER AND SHIFT INTERLOCK BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION The invention relates generally to starters for internalcombustion engines and to engine starting arrangements. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to starters and engine startingarrangements in which a starter gear or pinion is moved into meshingengagement with an engine starting gear or flywheel gear in response torotation of a drive member. Such constructions can be pull rope or motoroperated. Examples of such constructions are found in the pior Pike etal. U.S. Pat. No. 2,938,511, issued May 31, 1960, and in the prior MeyerUS. Pat. No. 3,449,964, issued June 17, 1969.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a starter and shiftinterlock which prevents starting of the engine by the starter wheneverthe engine is not in neutral drive condition. The invention also servesto prevent bounce-back of a starter pinion subsequent to rapid returnfrom a position of meshing engagement with an engine starting gear.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided an engine includinga clutch actuating member movable relative to a neutral position andmeans connected to the clutch actuating member for preventing movementof the starter pinion to a position of driving engagement with theengine starting gear when the clutch actuating member is not in neutral.

In one embodiment of the invention, the starter pinion is mounted forboth rotary movement and for movement along the axis of the rotarymovement be tween a retracted position and an advance position engagingthe engine starting gear. Axial movement of the starter pinion isprovided in response to rotary movement and, in this regard, there isprovided a drive member which includes a worm interfitting with a matinginternal worm on the starter pinion. Such axial movement is alsoprovided by reason of the imposition of frictional restraint on starterpinion rotary movement by a starter spring which is held againstunlimited rotary movement.

The means for preventing starter pinion axial movement to the advanceposition includes means on the starter pinion and on the starter springfor preventing relative axial movement therebetween, i.e., for insuringcommon axial movement, while affording frictionally restrained relativerotary movement, together with provision on the starter housing of anotch or slot which receives a part of the starter spring in responseeither to return starter pinion movement from the advanced to theretracted positions or to movement of the clutch actuating member fromneutral. Thus, when the starter spring is in the slot, axial movement ofthe starter pinion to engage the engine starting gear is prevented. Inregard to operation in response to the clutch actuating member, there isprovided a spring restraining link which is connected to the clutchactuating member and urged by a biasing spring into engagement with apair of posts or supports such that, when the clutch actuating member isin neutral position, restricted rotary movement of the starter spring ispermitted so as to facilitate movement of the starter spring out of theslot upon initial rotary movement of the starter pinion. However,movement of the clutch actuating member from the neutral position causesthe restraining link to pivot relative to the support or posts and tomove to a position which either displaces the spring into the slot orblocks movement of the spring from the slot.

One of the principal objects of the invention is the provision of anengine starting arrangement in which engine starting action is permittedonly when an associated clutch is in neutral.

Another of the principal objects of the invention is the provision of anengine starting arrangement which prevents bounce-back of a starterpinion toward the engine starting gear after rapid movement of thestarter pinion from a position of engagement with the engine startinggear.

Another of the principal objects of the invention is the provision of anoutboard motor including an engine starting arrangement embodying thefeatures described in the two preceding paragraphs.

Another of the principal objects of the invention is the provision of anengine starter which is adapted to provide the features described in thesecond and third preceding paragraphs.

Another of the principal objects of the invention is the provision of anengine starter which is operable, whenever an associated clutch is notin neutral, to permit rotary movement of a starter pinion but to preventstarter pinion movement toward a position of engagement with an enginestarting gear.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an enginestarter and engine starting arrangement which are relatively economicalto manufacture and which will provide reliable service over a long anduseful life.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become known byreference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a starter and shiftinterlock arrangement embodying various of the features of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary schematic view illustrating the interlockingactivity of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic view taken at a right angle to FIG. 2.

Before explaining the invention in detail, it is to be understood thatthe invention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and ofbeing practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to beunderstood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is forthe purpose of description and not of limitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Shown schematically in FIG. 1 is a starter andshift interlock arrangement 11 for an engine 13 including a rotatablestarting gear 17 which can be on a flywheel 19, together with a clutchactuating member 21 which is movably mounted relative to the engine 13by any suitable means (not shown) between a neutral position and forwardand reverse positions spaced from the neutral position. In oneembodiment in accordance with the invention, the engine 13 is a part ofan outboard motor (not shown) which includes a clutch o r reversingtransmission (not shown) and the clutch actuating member 19 is rotatablymounted on the outboard motor and connected through a bell crank lever23 to a link or element 27 which, in turn, is connected to the clutchfor operation thereof between forward, neutral and reverse conditions inresponse to movement of the clutch actuating member 21.

Fixed relative to the engine 13 is an engine starter 29 including astarter gear or pinion 31 which is both movable into engagement with theflywheel or starting gear 17 and rotatable to start the engine 13. Moreparticularly, while other detailed constructions could be employed, thedisclosed engine starter 29 includes a cylindrical housing or frame 33fixed relative to the engine 13, together with means for rotating thestarter pinion 31 and for axially displacing the starter pinion 31 inresponse to rotation thereof between a retracted position axially spacedfrom the starting or flywheel gear 17 and an advanced position ofdriving engagement with the flywheel gear 17. The means for rotating thestarter pinion 31 and for axially displacing the starter pinion 31,i.e., for advancing and retracting the starter pinion 31, includes acombined pulley and worm gear drive assembly which is rotatable relativeto the housing 33 and which includes a drive worm 37 on which thestarter pinion 31 is carried.

Still more particularly, the combined pulley and worm gear driveassembly comprises a drive member 39 including the before mentioneddrive worm 37, a pulley flange 41 and a pulley hub 43 which formportions of a pull rope pulley. The combined drive assembly alsoincludes a pulley member 47 which is connected to the drive member 39and which includes a flange 49 and a rewind or recoil spring hub 51extending into a suitable counterbore or opening 53 in the housing 33.The drive member 39 and the pulley member 47 are respectively axiallybored at 57 and 59 to facilitate assembly of the drive member 39 andpulley member 47 to the housing 33 for common rotation relative to thehousing 33 by a headed bolt 61 which extends through the respectivebores 57 and 59 in the drive member 39 and pulley member 47 and throughthe opening 53 in the housing 33 and which accepts a nut (not shown) toretain the components in assembled relation. A washer 63 is employedbetween the top of the drive worm 37 of the drive member 39 and the headof the bolt 61 to facilitate relative rotation therebetween and to limitaxial advance of the starter pinion 31 toward the flywheel gear engagingposition.

Fixed to the drive member hub 43 is a pull rope 67 which includes ahandle 69 and which is normally wound up in the area between the pulleyflanges 41 and 49 by a rewind or recoil spring 71 which is located inthe housing 33 beneath the pulley member 47 and which has an inner endconnected to a pin 73 on the pulley member 47 for rotation with thepulley member 47 and which has an outer end anchored in an axial slot 77in the circular wall of the housing 33.

As a consequence of the foregoing construction, when the rope 67 ispulled away from the starter 29, the combined pulley and worm gear driveassembly is rotated in the counter-clockwise direction as seen inFIG. 1. such rotation also serves to coil or tension the rewind spring71 so that, upon release of the pull rope 67, the

rewind spring 71 will rotate the combined drive assembly in the oppositeor clockwise direction to wind up the pull rope 67 between the flanges41 and 49.

In addition to the drive worm 37 and a cooperating driven worm 79 on thebore of the starter pinion 31, the means for rotating the starter pinion31 and for axially displacing the starter pinion 31 also includesformation on the starter pinion 31 of a hub or collar 81 and theengagement of the hub or collar with a starter spring 83 which is heldagainst unlimited rotation with the starter pinion 31 and whichreleasably frictionally restrains rotation of the starter pinion 31,thereby to cause axial starter pinion travel from the retracted positionto the advanced or flywheel gear engaging position in response tocounterclockwise rotation of the drive worm 37 and which causes axialstarter pinion travel from the flywheel gear engaging position to theretracted position in response to clockwise rotation of the drive worm37. Upon completion of axial starter pinion travel, the starter pinion31 will rotate with the drive worm 37 and relative to the starter spring83, thereby driving the flywheel gear 17 when the starter pinion 31 isin the advanced position.

As thus far explained, the construction is generally conventional. Theinvention also applied to electrically driven starters, as well as tostarters which operate so that the starter pinion is displaced to thestarting gear engaging position in response to rotation accompanyinguncoiling of a recoil spring which has been previously tensioned by apull rope or other recoil spring tensioning device.

In accordance with the invention, means are provided for controllingaxial displacement of the starter pinion 31. In the disclosedconstruction, such axial starter pinion displacement control meansserves to permit starter pinion advancement toward the starting gear 17only when the clutch actuating member 21 is in the neutral position andfor preventing such advancement when the clutch actuating member 21 ismoved from the neutral position. The means just mentioned also serves toprevent unwanted or accidental advancement of the starter pinion 31 fromthe retracted position in response to rapid return of the starter pinion31 from the advanced to the retracted position. In this regard, in theabsence of the disclosed invention, the inertia associated with suchrapid starter pinion return can cause the starter pinion 31 to bounceupwardly from the flange 41 toward the flywheel for unwanted engagementwith the flywheel after the engine has started.

More particularly, in accordance with the invention, such means includesmeans on the starter spring 83 and on the starter pinion 31 foraffording relative rotation therebetween while affording common axialdisplacement or movement of the starter spring 83 with the starterpinion 31 between the retracted and advanced positions. While otherconstructions can be employed, in the disclosed construction, such meansincludes formation of the starter spring 83 in a U-shape with a centralbite 87 including two opposing legs 89 and 91 with respective portionsand 92 resiliently biased into engagement in an annular groove 93 whichis provided in the starter pinion 31 to thereby afford frictionallyrestrained relative rotary movement therebetween while affording commonaxial movement.

The means for permitting starter pinion axial movement only when theclutch actuating member 21 is in the neutral position and for preventingsuch movement when the clutch actuating member 21 is moved from theneutral position also includes provision on the housing 33 of a memberor bracket 97 extending in the direction of axial movement of thestarter pinion 31 and including a notch or slot 99 located for receiptof a part of the starter spring leg 89 when the starter pinion 31 is inthe retracted position, thereby to prevent axial movement of the starterspring 83 and the starter pinion 31 from the retracted position to theadvanced position.

Still further, the means for permitting and preventing axial movement ordisplacement of the starter pinion 31, depending upon the position ofthe clutch actuating member 21, also includes disposition of the starterspring 83 in encircling relation to the upstanding bracket 97 so as togenerally prevent unlimited rotation of the starter spring 83 in theclockwise direction as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, while permitting rotativeentry of the starter spring leg 89 into the slot 99.

In operation, when the starter pinion 31 is returned toward theretracted position in response to clockwise rotation of the drive member39, the starter pinion 31 will bottom against the flange 41 and willthen rotate in common with the drive member 39 in the clockwisedirection to cause the leg 89 of the starter spring 83 to move into theslot 99. Continued clockwise movement of the starter pinion 31 with thedrive member 39 causes relative rotation between the starter spring 83and the starter pinion 31.

Upon subsequent pulling of the rope 67 to start the engine 13, initialcounterclockwise rotation of the drive member 39 will be ineffective toinitially cause axial displacement of the starter pinion 31 (because ofthe location of the spring leg 89 in the slot 99) but will cause thestarter pinion 31 to rotate in common with the drive member 39 and tocause such rotation of the starter spring 83 in common with the starterpinion 31 as is effective to displace the spring leg 89 from the slot99. Thereafter, the frictional restraint to relative rotative movementbetween the starter spring 83 and the starter pinion 31 will cause axialmovement of the starter pinion 31 from the retracted position to theadvanced position of engagement with the flywheel gear 17. Suchengagement occurs when the starter pinion 31 approaches the end of itsadvancing movement which is limited .by engagement of the starter pinion31 with the before mentioned washer 63. After the starter pinion 31reaches its advanced position, continued rotation of the drive member 39causes rotation of the starter pinion 31 relative to the starter spring83 and thereby also drivingly rotates the flywheel gear 17 to start theengine 13. In the absence of counterclockwise rotary movement of thedrive member 39 occasioned by withdrawal of the pull rope 67 orotherwise, bounceback of the starter pinion 31 from the retractedposition and toward the advanced flywheel gear engaging position isprevented.

Means are also provided for preventing disengagement of the leg 89 ofthe starter spring 83 from the slot 99 so as to prevent starter pinionadvancement in response to pull rope withdrawal when the clutchactuating member 21 is not in the neutral position. While otherarrangements can be employed, in the disclosed construction, there isprovided a spring restraining link or interlock element 121 which isoperatively connected to the clutch actuating member 21 and to thestarter spring 83 to prevent starter spring displacement from the slot99 when the clutch actuating member 21 is not in the neutral position.

In this last regard, means are provided for displacing the restraininglink 121 so as to prevent displacement of the starter spring 83 from theslot 99 whenever the clutch actuating member 21 is shifted from neutral.While other constructions can be employed, in the disclosed constructionsuch means includes provision of upper and lower posts 123 and 127respectively, which posts extend from the housing 33 and which arespaced in the direction of the starter pinion axial movement on oppositesides of the slot 99. Preferably, the posts 123 and 127 include notches129 adapted to be engaged by the restraining link 121.

The restraining link 121 is pivotally connected to the bell crank lever23 fixed to the clutch actuating member 21 and extends within the bite87 of the starter spring 83 so as to limit counterclockwise movement ofthe starter spring 83. It is preferred to urge the restraining link 121into engagement with the posts 123 and 127 and, in this regard, there isprovided a biasing spring 131 which is connected to the restraining link121 intermediate of the points of engagement with the posts 123 and 127and to an ear 133 extending from the housing 33. While otherconstructions can be employed, in the specifically disclosedconstruction, the bracket 97, the posts 123 and 127, and the ear 133 areall portions of a unitary part or stamping which is fixed to the housing33.

The notches 129 are located in the posts 123 and 127 and the restraininglink 121 is connected to the clutch actuating member 21 so that, in theneutral or full line position shown in FIG. 2, the restraining link 121is engaged in both notches 129 by the biasing spring 131, with therestraining link 121 extending in generally parallel and adjacentrelation to the bracket 97 and being spaced from the starter spring leg91 such that the starter spring 83 is free for limited rotation in thecounterclockwise direction as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 to clear the starterspring leg 89 from the slot 99. However, when the clutch actuatingmember 21 is shifted to the forward position, shown in dotted outline inFIG. 2, such movement causes the restraining link 121 to pivot about itsengagement with the lower post 127 so as to be displaced from engagementwith the upper post 123 and to a position blocking movement of thestarter spring leg 89 out of the slot 99. When the clutch actuatingmember 21 is moved to the rearward drive position, also shown in dottedoutline in FIG. 2, the restraining link 121 is caused to pivot about theupper post 123 so as to be displaced from the lower post 127 and so asto move to another position blocking movement of the starter spring leg89 from the slot 99.

Upon return of the clutch actuating member 21 to the neutral positionfrom either of the forward or reverse drive positions, the biasingspring 131 causes the restraining link 121 to engage both posts 123 and127 in the position affording or permitting starter spring movement outof the slot 99.

In summary with respect to operation, assuming the clutch actuatingmember 21 to be in neutral, withdrawal of the pull rope 67 from thepulley formed by the flanges 41 and 49 causes the rewind spring 71 betensioned and additionally causes the drive member 39 to rotate in thecounterclockwise direction as shown in the drive member 39 so as tothereby rotate the starter spring 83 until the spring leg 89 moves outof the slot 99 and until the starter spring 83 is restrained fromfurther rotary movement by engagement of the spring leg 91 with therestraining link 121. Thereafter, continued rotation in thecounterclockwise direction of the drive member 39 causes, in response tothe rotary restraint imposed on the starter spring 83 by the restraininglink 121 and the frictional engagement of the starter spring 83 with thestarter pinion 31, axial travel of the starter pinion 31 relative to thedrive member 39 and flywheel gear 17 from the retracted position to theadvanced position in engagement with the flywheel gear. Upon arrival ofthe starter pinion 31 in the advanced position, continued axial movementis prevented by the washer 63 and thereafter the starter pinion 31rotates with the drive member 39 and relative to the starter spring 83to drivingly rotate the flywheel gear 17 and thereby start the engine13.

Thereafter when the pull rope 67 is released, the rewind spring 71 willrotate the drive member 39 in the opposite direction. i.e., in theclockwise direction. Such rotation of the drive member 39 causesrewinding of the pull rope 67 and, due to the frictional engagement ofthe starter spring 83 with the starter pinion 31 and the rotationalrestraint imposed on the starter spring 83 by reason of engagement ofthe spring leg 89 with the bracket 97, also causes axial travel of thestarter pinion 31 from the advanced to the retracted position. When thestarter pinion 31 reaches the retracted position, the frictionalengagement of the starter pinion 31 with the starter spring 83 causesrotation of the starter spring 83 to that the spring leg 89 enters intothe slot 99 to thereby prevent subsequent advancing axial movement inthe absence of counterclockwise drive member movement. In the absence ofautomatic displacement of the spring leg 89 into the slot 99 in responseto return movement of the starter pinion 31, subsequent movement of theclutch actuating member 21 to either of the forward or reverse drivepositions will result in engagement of the starter spring leg 91 by therestraining link 121 and displacement of the starter spring 83 so thatthe spring leg 89 is moved into the slot 99 to prevent advancement ofthe starter pinion 31 toward the starting gear engaging position.

When the clutch actuating member 21 is in either of the forward orreverse drive positions, the restraining link 121 is located to preventmovement of the starter spring leg 89 out of the slot 99 and thereby toprevent axial travel of the starter pinion 31 from the retractedposition. As a consequence, pull rope withdrawal will be effective onlyto rotate the drive member 39 and thereby also to rotate the starterpinion 31 in common with the drive member 39 in its retracted positionand relative to the starter spring 83. Such drive member rotation alsotensions the rewind spring 71 so that, upon release of the pull rope 67,the rewind spring 71 causes drive member rotation in the clockwisedirection, thereby winding up the pull rope 67 and thereby also causingrotation, in common with the drive'member 39, of the starter pinion 31in its retracted position and relative to the starter spring 83. Thus,it will be seen that the interlock of the invention does not prevent theoperator from withdrawing the pull rope 67 from the starter 29 or theoperation of the rewind spring 71 to rewind the pull rope 67. However,the interlock of the invention does prevent such action from causingadvancement of the starter pinion 31 toward the starting gear 17 on theengine 13.

Various of the features of the invention are set forth in the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. An engine including a rotary starting gear, a clutch actuating membermovable relative to a neutral position, a starter housing fixed relativeto the engine, a starter pinion, means rotatably mounting said starterpinion on said housing for axial movement between an engine startingposition in engagement with said starting gear and a retracted positionaxially spaced from said engine starting position, an element connectedto said starter pinion for common axial movement therewith, a catchmounted on said engine in position to receive said element when saidpinion is in said retracted position and to block common axial movementof said element and said pinion from said retracted position when saidelement is received by said catch, and means connected with said clutchactuating member and operably connected to said element for preventingmovement of said element from said catch in response to movement of saidclutch actuating member from said neutral position.

2. An engine including a rotary starting gear, a clutch actuating membermovable relative to a neutral position, a starter housing fixed relativeto the engine, a starter pinion, means mounting said starter pinion onsaid housing for rotary movement and for axial movement relative to saidstarter gear between a retracted position and a position engaging saidstarter gear, means for rotating said starter pinion in one direction,means causing axial movement of said starter pinion toward said startinggear engaging position in response to operation of said stater pinionrotating means and including a spring engaged with said starter pinionfor frictionally restrained relative rotary movement therebetween, andmeans on said engine for restraining said spring against unlimitedrotative movement, and means connected to said starter pinion andoperable for preventing axial movement of said starter pinion from saidretracted position toward said starter gear engaging position when saidclutch actuating member is moved from said neutral position, saidstarter pinion axial movement preventing means including said spring,means connecting said spring and said starter pinion for common axialmovement, and a bracket extending from said housing and having therein aslot for receiving said spring when said starter pinion is in theretracted position, said slot having a part engageable with said springto block spring movement from the retracted position.

3. An engine in accordance with claim 2 and further including aninterlock element which is connected to said clutch actuating member,which is operatively connected to said spring, and which is movable, inresponse to movement of said clutch actuating member from neutralposition, to a position preventing movement of said spring from saidslot.

4. An engine in accordance with claim 3 wherein said housing hasextending therefrom two spaced posts and including means biasing saidinterlock element toward another position in engagement with said posts.

5. An engine in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means forpreventing axial starter pinion movement includes a bracket extendingfrom said housing and wherein said spring is U-shape including a biteportion which encircles said bracket and said interlock element andwherein said interlock element extends, when said clutch actuatingmember is in the neutral position, in generally parallel relation tosaid bracket.

6. An engine starter comprising a starter housing fixable relative to anengine and including a bracket extending from said housing and havingtherein a slot, a drive member rotatably mounted on said housing andincluding a drive worm, a starter pinion having an interior worm engagedon said drive worm, a U-shaped spring frictionally engaging said starterpinion and including a bite extending in encircling relation to saidbracket to limit rotary starter spring movement, means on said starterpinion in engagement with said starter spring for preventing relativemovement therebetween axially of the axis of starter pinion rotation andfor permitting frictionally restrained relative rotary movementtherebetween, thereby to cause axial movement of said starter pinionbetween a retracted position and an advanced position enablingengagement of said starter pinion with en engine flywheel gear inresponse to rotation of said drive member, said starter spring beingreceivable in said slot when said starter pinion is in said retractedposition and said slot including an edge extending transversely of thedirection of the rotary axis of said starter pinion to prevent starterspring axial movement when said starter spring is received in said slotand whereby starter spring axial movement is permitted upon rotation ofsaid starter spring out of said slot.

7. An engine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means forpreventing movement of said element from said catch comprises a linkconnected to said clutch actuating member and movable relative to aposition preventing displacement of said element from said catch.

8. An engine in accordance with claim 7 and further including meansbiasing said link toward said position.

9. An engine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said element comprises aspring and means connecting said spring to said starter pinion forcommon axial movement and for frictionally restrained relative rotarymovement therebetween.

10. An engine starter in accordance with claim 9 and further includingmeans for rotating said starter pinion in opposite directions includinga drive member rotatably mounted on said housing and including a driveworm, a worm mating with said drive worm and formed interiorly of saidstarter pinion, and means for rotating said drive member.

11. An engine in accordance with claim 10 and further including meansfor causing axial movement of said starter pinion in response to starterpinion rotation and including a bracket extending from said housing forengagement with said spring to limit rotary movement thereof.

12. An engine starter in accordance with claim 11 wherein said spring isU-shaped and includes a bite encircling said bracket and wherein saidbracket includes said catch.

13. An engine in accordance with claim 9 wherein said starter pinionrotates during axial movement of said pinion and said element to saidretracted position in the direction to effect entry of said element intosaid catch.

14. An engine in accordance with claim 9 wherein said starter pinionrotates during axial movement of said pinion and said element from saidretracted position in the direction to effect displacement of saidelement from said catch.

PO-I050 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 569 @ERTWICATE OF CORRECTION PatentNo 39739363 Dated Junel9, 973 Inventor) Robert J. Berry et al I It iscertified that error appears in the aboveidentified patent and that saidLetters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

(101mm 4- line 6; "or element" should be added before "83" Column 5,line 3; "or catch" should be; added before "99" Colum 8 lihe 30;"starter" should be ---starting--- Column 8, line 31; "starter" shouldbe --startin'g--- Colman 8, line 35; "stater" should be ---starter---Column 8, line 42; "starter" should be ---s'tart'ing--'-' Column 9, line21; "en" should be ---an--- Signed and sealed this 22nd day of January19714.a

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD MOEEETCHEEJE. RENE D. TEGTMEYER Attesting Officer ActingCommissioner of Patents

1. An engine including a rotary starting gear, a clutch actuating membermovable relative to a neutral position, a starter housing fixed relativeto the engine, a starter pinion, means rotatably mounting said starterpinion on said housing for axial movement between an engine startingposition in engagement with said starting gear and a retracted positionaxially spaced from said engine starting position, an element connectedto said starter pinion for common axial movement therewith, a catchmounted on said engine in position to receive said element when saidpinion is in said retracted position and to block common axial movementof said element and said pinion from said retracted position when saidelement is received by said catch, and means connected with said clutchactuating member and operably connected to said element for preventingmovement of said element from said catch in response to movement of saidclutch actuating member from said neutral position.
 2. An engineincluding a rotary starting gear, a clutch actuating member movablerelative to a neutral position, a starter housing fixed relative to theengine, a starter pinion, means mounting said starter pinion on saidhousing for rotary movement and for axial movement relative to saidstarter gear between a retracted position and a position engaging saidstarter gear, means for rotating said starter pinion in one direction,means causing axial movement of said starter pinion toward said startinggear engaging position in response to operation of said stater pinionrotating means and including a spring engaged with said starter pinionfor frictionally restrained relative rotary movement therebetween, andmeans on said engine for restraining said spring against unlimitedrotative movement, and means connected to said starter pinion andoperable for preventing axial movement of said starter pinion from saidretracted position toward said starter gear engaging position when saidclutch actuating member is moved from said neutral position, saidstarter pinion axial movement preventing means including said spring,means connecting said spring and said starter pinion for common axialmovement, and a bracket extending from said housing and having therein aslot for receiving said spring when said starter pinion is in theretracted position, said slot having a part engageable with said springto block spring movement from the retracted position.
 3. An engine inaccordance with claim 2 and further including an interlock element whichis connected to said clutch actuating member, which is operativelyconnected to said spring, and which is movable, in response to movementof said clutch actuating member from neutral position, to a positionpreventing movement of said spring from said slot.
 4. An engine inaccordance with claim 3 wherein said housing has extending therefrom twospaced posts and including means biasing said interlock element towardanother position in engagement with said posts.
 5. An engine inaccordance with claim 3 wherein said means for preventing axial starterpinion movement includes a bracket extending from said housing andwherein said spring is U-shape including a bite portion which encirclessaid bracket and said interlock element and wherein said interlockelement extends, when said clutch actuating member is in the neutralposition, in generally parallel relation to said bracket.
 6. An enginestarter comprising a starter housing fixable relative to an engine andincluding a bracket extending from said housing and having therein aslot, a drive member rotatably mounted on said housing and including adrive worm, a starter pinion having an interior worm engaged on saiddrive worm, a U-shaped spring frictionally engaging said starter pinionand including a bite extending in encircling relation to said bracket tolimit rotary starter spring movement, means on said starter pinion inengagement with said starter spring for preventing relative movementtherebetween axially of the axis of starter pinion rotation and forpermitting frictionally restrained relative rotary movementtherebetween, thereby to cause axial movement of said starter pinionbetween a retracted position and an advanced position enablingengagement of said starter pinion with en engine flywheel gear inresponse to rotation of said drive member, said starter spring beingreceivable in said slot when said starter pinion is in said retractedposition and said slot including an edge extending transversely of thedirection of the rotary axis of said starter pinion to prevent starterspring axial movement when said starter spring is received in said slotand whereby starter spring axial movement is permitted upon rotation ofsaid starter spring out of said slot.
 7. An engine in accordance withclaim 1 wherein said means for preventing movement of said element fromsaid catch comprises a link connected to said clutch actuating memberand movable relative to a position preventing displacement of saidelement from said catch.
 8. An engine in accordance with claim 7 andfurther including means biasing said link toward said position.
 9. Anengine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said element comprises aspring and means connecting said spring to said starter pinion forcommon axial movement and for frictionally restrained relative rotarymovement therebetween.
 10. An engine starter in accordance with claim 9and further including means for rotating said starter pinion in oppositedirections including a drive member rotatably mounted on said housingand including a drive worm, a worm mating with said drive worm andformed interiorly of said starter pinion, and means for rotating saiddrive member.
 11. An engine in accordance with claim 10 and furtherincluding means for causing axial movement of said starter pinion inresponse to starter pinion rotation and including a bracket extendingfrom said housing for engagement with said spring to limit rotarymovement thereof.
 12. An engine starter in accordance with claim 11wherein said spring is U-shaped and includes a bite encircling saidbracket and wherein said bracket includes said catch.
 13. An engine inaccordance with claim 9 wherein said starter pinion rotates during axialmovement of said pinion and said element to said retracted position inthe direction to effect entry of said element into said catch.
 14. Anengine in accordance with claim 9 wherein said starter pinion rotatesduring axial movement of said pinion and said element from saidretracted poSition in the direction to effect displacement of saidelement from said catch.